An updated report from the Manhattan Institute revealed problems New York City faces with its mental illness crisis. The institute said this follows a 2018 report reviewing the city’s decade-long changes in programs for the seriously mentally ill. The city had previously changed how it treated the mentally ill through deinstitutionalization measures, which wouldn’t pressure people to undergo treatment. While these measures began back in the early 2010s, they have had a significant impact on life in the city, both good and bad.
According to the report, these efforts have improved investment in programs for mentally unwell persons who weren’t adults. That said, the COVID-19 pandemic has reportedly spiked the number of mentally unwell people on the city’s streets, and the recent budget cuts have only exacerbated problems with these programs.
The report has revealed that NYC jails are housing a significant number of inmates with severe mental illnesses. Additionally, emergency calls towards incidents involving “emotionally disturbed persons” have risen rapidly.
This, according to the report, is a result of the limited space mental health programs and shelters have within the city, which are constantly filled to the maximum. The report recommends that both the city and state governments assume greater responsibility for these programs. The institute notes that more people are seeking to use mental health services, and these needs should be met with proper demand.
